To properly learn the techniques and flies presented in this website, work your way through the Basic Skills sections and then do the listed flies in the recommended order. Each fly builds on previously learned skills. Once you have done this, the flies listed for river use (Stonefly, Cranefly, Egg Pattern, and Baitfish) should be easily mastered.

Importance to Fly Fishing

Stonefly nymphs are abundant in streams. They live up to three years under the water and therefore there are available as trout food all year round. During hatch time the nymphs migrate to the shallows and become exposed to trout. At this time fishing a Stonefly nymph is especially effective.

This Stonefly pattern is similar in design and proportion to the pheasant tail nymph shown in the Mayfly section. However this pattern is tied on a bigger hook and is much bulkier. The original Box Canyon Stone uses dubbing for the thorax. For ease of tying I have substituted black chenille for the dubbing. In the area where I live, central British Columbia, black stonefly nymphs are predominant. In some areas lighter brown stoneflies are common. Check with your local fly shop to see what is the best colour for your area.

Materials needed for this river fly.

For the lake flies previously described, there was a set of materials that applied to all of them. The river flies will require new materials that you will need to shop for. For this stonefly pattern you will need to add:

• Black yarn (raid someone’s knitting supply!)
• Light brown yarn (raid someone’s knitting supply!)
• Turkey quill
• Brown goose biots
• Lead wire (.20")
• Size 6 Mustad 9672 hooks

Goose biots are large barbules from the leading edge of a bird’s flight feather. You need not let this definition intimidate you. At fly shops you can buy a strip of goose biots and cut off individual pieces, as you need them. You will need 2 biots for the tail of the Box Canyon Stone.

For some previously described flies, grizzly hackle was used. For the Stonefly nymphs brown hackle is recommended. Since you will only need to make 2-3 wraps, the hackle will not need to be very long. Buying an inexpensive brown hackle saddle will be fine for this fly.

Here is a picture of a turkey quill that can be easily purchased at a fly shop. Note how a section of the quill was snipped off and isolated. This section of quill is what will be used for the wing case.

This is lead wire. It comes in a range of thickness from .10” to .35”. For this fly, .20” will be fine.

Weighting Nymphs

When fishing nymphs in streams it is necessary to get the flies near the bottom. This requires weight. This can be done in two ways. You can add weight to the fishing line or you can wrap lead directly onto the hook before dressing it.

You need to be careful about the regulations on the stream or river that you are fishing. In British Columbia if the regulations say:

• Artificial Fly Only - you are allowed to use external weights and floats with your fly when fishing
• Fly Fishing Only - you are not allowed to use external weights and floats. If you need weight it must be put directly on the hook before the fly is tied.

Be Careful!

If you wish to lightly weight your fly, only put on 1 layer of lead as shown in the top hook. If you wish to make your fly heavier, add an extra layer of lead as shown on the bottom hook.

Once you have weighted your hook, start your thread. Then in wide turns wrap thread around the lead. This will hold things together while you proceed to tie your fly. It is also a good idea to create a thread taper at each end to allow the smooth wrapping of materials and will prevent a “bumpy” look on the finished fly.

Box Canyon Stone
(with chenille thorax instead of dubbing)

Originator: Mims Barker

In the Basic Skills sections you learned how to

• Smash down the barb
• Put the hook in the vice

Make a decision as to whether you will add lead to your fly. Whether you should add lead and how many layers depends on the regulations and the flow rate of the stream or river you plan to fish. For this demonstration 1 layer of lead has been added. Note carefully where the wrapping started and ended.

Start the thread behind the lead wire. Once you have put thread wraps around the lead, make sure the thread is at the bend of the hook.

Next tie in the goose biots. Hold 1 biot at an angle over the bend of the hook. The tip of the biot should project about 8 mm past the bend of the hook. Start by making some loose wraps with your thread and tighten with each successive wrap. Snip off the butt end of the biot that sticks out over the lead. Now tie in the second biot. Make sure it is of the same length and tied in at the opposite angle.

This is how the biots should look when seen from above.

Cut off a 12 cm length of yarn. Tie the tip of the yarn so it butts up against the lead. Secure the yarn with several tight wraps. Move the thread half way up the shank of the hook.

Twist the yarn tightly in the direction that it has already been twisted. Wrap the yarn halfway up the shank but do not make the wraps too close together. You want to emphasize segmentation. If you wrap too closely this effect will be lost.

Secure the yarn with several tight thread wraps. Snip off the excess yarn very close to the hook.

Position the turkey quill section as shown. Tie into place.

Prepare a brown hackle in the same way done for the Wooly Bugger or Wooly Worm. (See Basic Skills section 6, Wrapping Materials and Tying Off.) Position the hackle as shown, tie it into place, and snip off any of the hackle tip that projects over the hook eye.

Take a 6 cm piece of black chenille, position it as shown, and tie into place.

Wrap the chenille over the thorax area. Do not wrap too closely to the eye of the hook. Secure the chenille with several wraps of thread. Snip off the excess.

Palmer the hackle over the thorax. Do not make more than three wraps. Secure the hackle with several wraps of thread and snip off the excess.

Pull down the hackle fibers with the thumb and finger of your left hand.

While holding the hackle fibers down, pull the turkey quill section over the thorax with your right thumb and forefinger.

Tie down the quill section with several tight thread wraps.

Snip off the excess turkey quill.

Build a thread head, secure with 5 half hitch knots, snip the thread, and add head cement.

Here is a similar fly tied in a lighter colour.

Click Here for more Stonefly patterns

Where to find fish in a river.

How to fish this fly in a river.